Snappers Take Series Opener Over LumberKings

Wyatt Marks tied a career-high nine strikeouts, and Mickey McDonald scored the go-ahead run, as the Beloit Snappers (9-7) took the series opener 2-1 over the Clinton LumberKings (12-6) at Pohlman Field before 318 fans Friday night.

After Mickey McDonald led off the bottom of the eighth inning, he came around to score on a wild pitch later in the inning with Logan Farrar batting to give the Snappers a 2-1 edge.
McDonald went 2-for-4 on the night with a double and the aforementioned go-ahead run scored. The outfielder has now registered multi-hit games in seven of his 13 games played this season.
The Lumber Kings took the early lead in the top of the third inning, as Louis Boyd came around to score on a Ryan Scott RBI double to left field.
It was the lone run the Snappers pitching staff would surrender between starter Jean Ruiz, and scheduled reliever Wyatt Marks. The duo racked up 14 strikeouts with nine punch outs going to Marks. The nine strikeouts for Marks tied a career-high, which he set on April 13 against the Kane County Cougars.
Ruiz tossed the first 4.1 innings of the game, surrendering the on run on three hits while striking out four and walking just two batters.
Marks tallied his nine strikeouts in 4.2 scoreless innings pitched, and surrendered just two hits while walking a batter. The right-hander picked up his third win of the season for the Snappers.
Jesus Lopez led off the fifth inning with a double, and was quickly advanced to third on a bunt by Trace Loehr. Anthony Churlin then plated Lopez with a sac fly to left field to tie the game at 1.
McDonald, Austin Beck and Loehr each tallied two-hit performances for the Snappers Friday night.
The series continues with game two of the three-game set Saturday afternoon at Pohlman Field. The Snappers will send right-hander Xavier Altamirano (0-1, 2.79) and the LumberKings will send left-hander Oliver Jaskie (1-0, 0.59). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and have been the Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics since 2013. For more ticket information, contact the Snappers office at (608) 362-2272 or on our website, www.snappersbaseball.com.